Living Things

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre, and a journalist.

Living Things is a short activity-based book designed to introduce young
children to the basics of biology. Each of the 13 activities has been
designed to illustrate such key concepts as metamorphosis, adaptation,
photosynthesis and respiration.

“The Eating Game” is a typical experiment. Using common kitchen
tools such as skewers and spoons, children are encouraged to put as much
“food” (rice, marbles, elastic bands) as they can into a plastic bag
“stomach.” A yellow test box explains in simple terms the focus of
the experiment. As with each of the activities in the book, necessary
materials, method, and brief explanatory notes are clearly presented.
Photographs are used to good effect, in most cases featuring children
engaged in the particular activity.

Though not a systematic look at biological concepts, this colorful
introduction to the world of living things does cover a lot of the
highlights in a few short pages. Parents and teachers be warned: this is
a book about living (read: “often icky”) things, mealworms and sow
bugs included. Supervise your children as they journey through this
title. Recommended.